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Commissioners approve rezoning and package‑store permit for Belmont site, grant setback variance
Summary
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved rezoning of a 0.94‑acre Belmont Park parcel to General Commercial, granted a special‑use permit for an alcohol package store at the location and approved a variance reducing the front setback from 50 to 25 feet; all votes were unanimous.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3 approved a rezoning, a special‑use permit for an alcohol retail package store and a reduced setback for a 0.94‑acre site in Belmont Park.
County planning staff told commissioners the applicant sought to rezone the parcel to General Commercial and requested a covenant and proffered conditions to limit uses and manage site impacts, including lighting consistent with Article 25 of the county zoning ordinance. Staff displayed proposed renderings showing a 5,000–6,000 square‑foot standalone building and noted required improvements such as a right‑turn lane on Soleil Boulevard and underground utilities.
Commissioner Cagle moved to approve the rezoning with the proffered conditions and a revision to the outdoor‑lighting language so fixtures conform to Article 25; Commissioner Wetherbee seconded. The board voted unanimously to approve the rezoning.
The board then considered a special‑use permit for a package store at the same location. Commissioners discussed whether the permit should be tied to a specific initial licensee or to the location. County staff said the special‑use permit secures the location for the use and that licensing and transfers would follow the county’s licensing procedures. "The location itself gets the license and they're able to move forward with it," said Trey, the county attorney/administrator presenting the case. Commissioners ultimately approved the special‑use permit, limited to the package‑store use described in the conditions, by unanimous vote.
Finally, the board approved a concurrent variance reducing the front building setback from 50 feet to 25 feet to permit the proposed building placement. That motion also passed unanimously.
What happens next: the approvals allow the applicant to proceed with site work, permitting and licensing steps required to build and operate the package store. Any license transfer or new license applications will continue to be processed under county licensing rules.
